What is SPAM?
Email spam, commonly referred to as “spam,” is unsolicited and often irrelevant or inappropriate email sent in bulk to a large number of recipients. The primary characteristics of email spam include:
- Unsolicited – recipients typically do not request (not opted in) or consent to receive these emails. They are sent without the explicit permission of the individuals or businesses targeted.
- Bulk distribution – Spam emails are distributed in large quantities to a vast number of email addresses simultaneously. The goal is to reach as many recipients as possible.
- Commercial Intent – many spam emails have a commercial motive, promoting products, services, or fraudulent schemes. Some may also contain phishing attempts or malicious links.
- Deceptive tactics – spammers often use deceptive tactics, such as misleading subject lines, false sender information, and attempts to mimic legitimate communication to trick recipients into opening the emails.
- Potential Harm – some spam emails may carry malware, phishing attempts, or other malicious content aimed at compromising the security of the recipient’s computer or personal information.
Efforts to combat email spam include spam filters implemented by email service providers, which use various algorithms and criteria to identify and divert spam emails away from users’ inboxes. And, spam traps, used to catch businesses that are collecting unsolicited emails. Additionally, legislation such as the CAN-SPAM Act aims to regulate commercial email and provide guidelines for lawful email marketing practices.
Too many spam complaints may cause your account to be suspended.
